Investec Bank plc (Investec”, a leading international financial services provider, has announced a new joint venture with Kier Property (Kier), a prominent property development company, to develop urban logistics assets across England with a total projected value of £400 million GDV.

This new partnership builds on Investec's longstanding relationship with Kier and marks the third joint venture between the two companies, and the first under the Investec REALIS (REALIS) equity strategy, which was launched last year. The venture follows the successful completion of 13 urban logistics developments across the UK under a previous joint initiative, including the Logistics City and Trade City projects.

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The joint venture's first site has already been secured through the off-market acquisition of a 4.4-acre former office site in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The site will be redeveloped into a seven-unit Trade and Logistics City scheme, providing 87,000 sq. ft. of modern industrial space.

In keeping with the venture's commitment to sustainable development, the Hemel Hempstead project will be delivered to the highest institutional specification and is targeting a BREEAM Excellent certification, reflecting both Kier Property’s and Investec REALIS’ shared focus on sustainability in property development.

This acquisition represents REALIS' third overall and its first in the industrial and logistics development sector, which is one of its key strategic areas, alongside prime office spaces and Select Living assets.